The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-05
SAILING IN A SQUALL.
A REGATTA FULL OF ACCIDENTS
AND INCIDENTS.

ing Work by a Brave Sailor-Two
Mettle-The Vernon Victorious in the
First Glass The Uncas and Siren
Capsized-A Day Full of Interesting
Events.
The glorious Fourth was to the Savannah
Yacht Club day full of events. In fact,
though the clubs races and regattaS have
never been without interesting incidents,
never did a day pass in which SO many and
such exciting ones were crowded. From
start to finish there was not a moment when
something to make the pulse beat a little
faster than usual was not occurring, and at
times it was wildly exciting.
At 1920 o'clock the Pope Catlin left the
city with a fair crowd aboard bound for
the race. She steamed down tho river and
started to enter the South Channel to go
into St Augustine creek As she neared
the Instructions Capt. Swift saw that the
yacht Wanderer was lying becalmed directly
across the channel Thinking that he had
room to pass between the yacht and the
distractions he took the southern side and
started through, but the wheel caught a
Bnag. which broke one or two paddles
Threw JDe DOdt on bllS lJilto.
TIMELY RESCUE.
Capt. Swift whistled for assistance, but
none came, and as the tide was on the ebb it
was feared that the boat would be left on
piling, but at last the tug Cambria, which
had a pleasure party on board, came down
St Augustine creek, being unable to get
through to the course, and seeing the dis
tress Of the Catlin took her in tow and drew
her over the Instructions, with only slight
damage to the paddle.
The steamer then went up the creek to the
Tybee railroad drawbridge but found it
closed. After a time the draw was opened,
and she went through, but scraped on both
sides. From that on her trip was unevent-
full, and at 1920 o'clock she landed her pas
sengers at the Thunderbot club house.
As soon as she arrived the Sailing Com
mittee began to prepare for the race. The
captains of the yachts were called together
and given their instructions and they hast
ened off to make ready Soon the cleaning
white sails were seen climbing up the masts,
and then the jibs went up and the trim
boats began cruising about above the line,
making ready TO start at the signal. 1t was
arranged that the Jennie S. and the Zinga
should start first in order that they might
have free course and be given as much
clear water as possible
THE START.
While waiting for the signal everyone
was watching the heavy clouds that were
gathering in the east They were heavy
and dark and the spectators as well as the
sailors saw that a squall would strike the
boats before they had been out long, though
at that time there was just enough wind TO
fill the sails
At 1851 the signal TO start was given.
The Zinga started at once for the line and
crossed it at 12:5S:40, followed by the Jen-
ME S. at 12:59I0 They started on down
the course, CARRYING with them the interest
of the spectators, burdened with the hopes
and fears of both witnesses and others whose
interest in the two proud yachts had been
intensified by the announcement that this
race was the final test of merit. At inter
walls of five minutes the other classes went
out. The boats of the first class crossed the
line in the following order: White Wing,
Eta, Edith, Glance, Vernon, Claude In the
fourth class the Marie went out first and
the Gertrude followed. The Uncas lead the
fifth class and after her came the Nina and
then the Siren.
The fleet was off but the Pope Catlin was
on. While she was tied up at the wharf the
tide had ebbed and left her in the mud A
line was put out and while the bow OF the
boat was being worked around one of the
piles of the wharf was pulled out Then
she steamed down few hundred yards and
struck bar, but when she pulled over that
the trouble was over for the day and all
was smooth sailing before her.
A PAIR OF ACCIDENTS.
Meanwhile, the yachts had gone some
distance down Wilmington river and the
passengers on the steamer were Straining
their eyes to catch view of their favorite
boats The race between the favoriteS was
the most exciting that any one present
could remember to have seen in these
4 4
were sailing under "a good breeze when the
squall struck The Zinga was behaving
beautifully, obeylng the slightest touch of
tie tlller and moving as smoothly as
II there was not n ripple on the
waters, but just as the wind caught her sails
her centre-board struck a bar, and almost in
an instant the waves washed her clear llp on
land, and there she had to stay. The Jennie
=. had gained the lead the Zinga had in the
start, but had just passed the stranded boat
when her lib-boom broke, and she had to
drop anchor to splice it. This occupied her
about twenty minutes and then the anchor
was hoisted and she sailed away An hour
and a half later she was sailing easily along
confident that the race was already won
Everything was ready for the second squall
that was coming up aStern and the crew
was busily engaged with hard-boiled eggs,
crackers and leo water. when Com Demere
exclaimed: Great heavens, look there!
Get to work, boys, quickw
QUICK RUN.
Everyone looked asteIn and there was the
Zinga only a short distance behind. sailing
along as if nothing had happened. The tide
had turned and came in rapidly enough to
lift her off, but she lost three-quarterS of an
hour. The squat was coming and the
Zinga had the wind and she was walking
right up on the boats ahead of her Fifteen
minutes before she was behind the fifth
class, but when she was sighted everyone
saw that she would make a tight race with
the Jennie s. Astern, a great mass Of
black clouds was piling up and the wind was
blowing stitily. Only few minutes elapSed
before the squat struck, and then the crews
began taking in canvas. The Glance went
to anchor, as did many other of the boats in
the rear of the fleet, but the Jennie s.
Zinga, Vernon and Claude kept on their
course, for the buoy was only about three
miles ahead, and that tended greatly toward
stimulating courage. From the deck of the
Catlin the turning of the buoy by the favor
ties was one Of the most exciting spectacles
that one may ever hope TO SEQ in yacht
race.
TURNING WITH BARE POLES.
The wind was blowing perfect gale. No
one thought for a moment that even these
brave sailors would dare make the turn. but
they came straight on sailing under single
jib, but that white triangle was being jerked
by the gusts of wind, and with every blow
the bow would plunge in the water The
WAVES were SWpauinp tho docks from, ho,,. 20